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RUSSIA'S ECONOMY

Minister stresses Russia-Japan transportation link must be economically justified

The Japanese economic minister noted that such massive projects not only need to be validated by business, but would also demand "broader and long-term support of both nation’s population"

Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko EPA/HOANG DINH NAM/POOL

Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko

© EPA/HOANG DINH NAM/POOL

TOKYO, December 19. /TASS/. The project to build a transportation route from Sakhalin to Hokkaido should be economically justified, and be supported by the Russian and Japanese public, if a plan of this scale is to be carried out, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko said in an interview with TASS.

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"In order to examine such an idea, it is essential to carefully consider the technological possibilities and economic feasibility, taking into account the prospects for the construction of a railroad bridge from the mainland to Sakhalin, as well as the state of modernization of the Trans-Siberian railway," he said. The minister added that he would closely follow expert discussions on this issue.

At the same time, the economic minister noted that such massive interstate projects not only need to be validated by business, but would also demand "broader and long-term support of both nation’s population."

At the Vladivostok-hosted Eastern Economic Forum, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said that Moscow suggested Japan construct an automobile-railway link from Hokkaido to southern Sakhalin. This, according to him, would give Russia the opportunity to additionally use its railway infrastructure and simultaneously "make Japan a continental power."

Earlier, First Vice President of Russian Railways Alexander Misharin said in an interview with TASS that Russian Railways and Japan’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport created a working group for the Russia-Japan transport project. He noted that building a transport link between Sakhalin and the mainland is an essential condition to carry out the project.

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In general, "quite active hostilities" are taking place near Dvurechnaya and Lozovaya in the Kupyansk sector of the line of engagement, Andrey Marochko noted

Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

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According to US Central Command, the incident occurred during airstrikes on Houthi facilities

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Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

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Syria's new authorities appoint Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister

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Russia ready to normalize relations with US without detriment to its interests — Putin

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Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

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Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

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ISS orbit raised ahead of launching Soyuz manned spacecraft

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